Coal-mining machine.



No. 680,683. Patented Aug. 20, 190i.

A. BALL. COAL MININGMACHINE. (Application filed Aug. 21, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Shem l.

(No Model.)

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Patented Aug. 20, MN.

A. BALL.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 189%) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

\NITNEEEEE INVEN U THE Nonms PETERS c0. PHoro-umu, wAsmrmmu. n. c.

r A. BALL.

GOAL NIINING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 21,1897.)

Patented'Nug. 20, I901,

' (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Shut 3.

Unrreo stares ALBERT BALL, OF CLAREMONT,

Parent Car ion.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE ILLINOIS.

COAL-MINING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,683, dated August20, 1901.

Application filed August 21, 1897. Serial No. 649,014:- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BALL, a resident of Claremont, in the countyof Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Coal-Shear ing Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to coal-mining machines, its object being toprovide a compact, simple, and durable machine for relieving the vein ofcoal with a vertical out extending from the top to the bottom thereofand of proper depth.

I propose by myinvention to provide a machine by which this Work can beaccomplished in a very short time with very little labor on the part ofthe operator, while at the same time a straight and even out can be madeof proper depth.

My invention comprises certain novel features, all of which will befully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improvedmachine standing on the track ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a top viewof the forward portion of the machine, showing the manner in which thecutter-bar is braced. Fig. 3 is a side view of the truck as it appearsin position for running on the track to convey the machine from one partof the mine to another, the frame carrying the feed mechanism, drc,being omitted. Fig. at is a rear View of the machine. Figs. 5 and (S aredetail views of guides for the cutter-bar. Figs. 7 and 8 are detailviews of the guide portion and chuckhead which holds the picks. Fig. 9is an enlarged view of the front portion of the cutter-bar, showing theform of cut made by the picks. Fig. 10 is a face view of the cutter-barhead, showing one form of arrangement of picks. Figs. 1]. and 11 arelike views showing a different arrangement of picks. Fig. 12 is anenlarged side View, partly broken away, of the rear portion of themachine. Fig. 13 is a side View of the independent track-section. Fig.14 is a plan view of same. form of my invention,

and Fig. 16 is a detail View thereof.

Fig. 15 is a modified Like characters of reference indicate like partsin each view.

The letter a represents a suitable truckframe which has the wheels I)I), mounted on the axles b journaled in suitable bearings thereon, saidwheels when in operation being adapted to run on the common track laidin the mine for the transportation of the machine from one part of themine to another, also to transport the coal-cars. Beyond the wheels I) bare the rollers or wheels d d, said rollers being journaled on the pinsWin the hangers e. The hangers e are mounted rigidly on the shafts f.These shafts f are supported on the truck-frame a and are held withinsuitable bearing-blocks g, bolted to the frame by means of the bolts 9'.These bearing-blocks 9 have an enlarged opening or slot 9 formed thereinto allow for a certain amount of vertical movement on the part of saidshafts for the purpose more fully hereinafter set forth.

On the lower side of the truck-frame a and secured thereto by means ofthe same bolts 9' are the blocks h, said blocks having the incline h andthe recess h This recess 712 is adapted to receive a stud or pin 2' onthe hangers 6 when the rollers 61 d are resting on the track, wherebythe wheels I) h are raised from contact with the rails c, as will bemore fully hereinafter set fortln Mounted in suitable hearings in thetruckframe a is the worm-wheel j, adapted to be operated by the wormj onthe vertical shaft j working in the bearing j, the upper end of saidshaft havingthe handlej. Mounted on the same shaft 7; which carries thewormwheelj is the sprocket-wheel A chain Z passes over thesprocket-wheel 7t" and down and under two idle sheaves Z,the said chainbeing secured to a projection 'm at one end of the independenttrack-section c, engaging with a projection m at the opposite end ofsaid track. The idle sheaves Z act to guide the chain over the sprocketand prevent it from slipping out of the sprocket-teeth. The chain Z maybe secured to any other fixed support in line of the sprocket. In thismanner by turning the handle j the truck-frame may be moved along thetrack, found necessary in the operation as may be of the machine. Themovable independent track-section a is one that is used as an extensionof the main track, and as such it is of course desirable that it beconstructed in such form as to be readily adjusted into position toreceive the machine from the main track over which it has beentransported to the place of operation. For convenience in handling thistrack-section 0 may consist of rails of suitable length, held togetherand braced by means of the cross-plates 0. These crossplates 0 have thelips c at the ends thereof, which engage the outer flanges of the rails.Clips 0 are pivoted to the plate 0, so as to swing freely thereon, saidclips having their forward ends, as at a, shaped to fit over and bindthe inner flanges of the rails. When the clips are in this position, therails are held together and maintained parallel. If itis desired to takethe track apart, it is only necessary to swing the clips into suchposition as to free them from the flanges of the rails, when the railscan be removed.

By the construction of the truck-frame just described I have a framewith eight wheels, the wheels I) Z) only being in use when the machineis being conveyed from one part of the mine to the other, and as saidwheels are arranged close to each other there is no difficulty in theturning of curves or liability of the machine being derailed. Therollers 01 01 when the machine is being transported from one place toanother are thrown up into the position shown in Fig. 3; but when themachine is in position for operation these rollers d d are swung downinto position to rest on the rails, and by applying force in the properdirection the pins 1' on the hangers e are forced along the inclines hof the blocks h until said pins enter the recesses 71 By this operationthe shafts f are forced to the upper ends of the slots 9 thereby actingto elevate the truck-frame a and free the wheels b Z) from engagementwith the rails. truck and the machine carried thereby will then besupported entirely upon the rollers d d, and as said rollersare locatedbeyond the wheels b b the frame is supported nearer its ends.Consequently a firiner platform for the machine to rest upon isprovided, and the weight of the wheels I) b when lifted from the trackhelps to steady the machine, while at the sametime, as stated before,said wheels upon which the machine is transported from one place toanother are sufficiently close to each other to permit the truck to turnsharp curves readily Without liability of slipping from the rails. I donot wish to limit myself, however, to the use of rollers d d, as I mayemploy a form of support which will slip or slide along the rails of theindependent tracksection. This modified form is illustrated in Figs. 15and 16, and will be referred to more fully hereinafter.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the truckframe ct is the machine-framert. Acylinder 0 is trunnioned on the frame n by means of the Thetrunnions0,said cylinder being supplied with the steam-chest 0containing suitable valve mechanism for reciprocating a suitable pistoncontained within said cylinder 0. Projecting out beyond the cylinder 0through a suitable stuffing-box at the end of said cylinder is thepiston extension p, to which the cutter-bar p is connected by means ofthe chuck or coupling p". The forward end of the cutter-harp enters asocket in the enlarged extension-piece g, which carries the head q, towhich the picks g are secured. I prefer to arrange the picks in thecutter-head in two gangs, as shown, so that when the cut is made a corewill be left between the two gangs of picks. This is clearly illustratedin Fig. 9. As the picks enter the coal the core between is broken down,and consequently a wider cut is made. The advantage of arranging thepicks in this fashion lies in the fact that instead of cutting the coalthis entire width of the cut it is only necessary to out two narrowcuts, the central core breaking down of itself and leaving the wide out.Only two picks may be employed in each gang, as shown in Fig. 11, ifdesired. A guide r, supported at the forward end of the T-bar 8,supports the front end of the cutter-bar, said guide 4", having thegroove 7', adapted to engage flanges s of the T-bar, one portion of saidgroove being made up of the hooked portion r of a bolt r passing throughsaid guide, whereby upon turning the nut r the guide may be loosened ortightenedupon the flanges s and so moved from one position to anotherthereon. The T-bar s is supported at its rear endin the frame at, saidbar being supported within the guides tt', said guides having thesetscrews t for holding said T-bar s firmly therein. By thisconstruction the T-bar s can be moved back or forward, as desired, whenthe truss-rods'tt are not employed. By merely loosening the set-screws tthe T-bar can be quickly moved back in order to enable the machine toturn sharp curves when moving the machine, and said barcan be set toproject anydistance in order to support cutting-bars of various lengths.These truss-rods u are secured at their inner ends to the projections uon the front end of the cylinder 0 and extend forwardly, engaging theends of the cross-bar u and being secured at their forward ends to theT-bar s. Loops u are formed at the inner ends of the rods u, said loopsengaging the projections 11/, whereby said truss-rods may be readilydisconnected when not in use. These truss-rods act to hold thesupporting T-bar s rigidly from the side for starting the out; but afterthe out has been started and is at a sufficient depth these truss-rods uare disconnected and laid aside until the cut is finished, whereby thesupporting-bar is permitted to enter the cut in the same way as thecutter-harp.

Extending up from the frame to is the curved rack-bar 'v, with the teethof which the worm- Wheel 4) engages, said worm-wheel being mounted onthe shaft 12 with the worm-wheel 11 said worm being operated by means ofthe handle to. By turning the handle wthe cutter-bar may be raised andlowered, the parts rocking on the trunnions o. Extending out from thecylinder 0 or other part of the rocking frame is the lever x, said leverhaving the notches 00 formed therein. A chain y engages with the notches5c of the lever w, said chain passing down and under thesprocket-wheely, mounted on the shaft 3 When the long extension in thecutter-baris removed, the chain is slipped into a notch nearer thecylinder, as the swinging motion is greater when the short cutter-bar isin and the spring has less Weight to balance. The sprocket-wheel y ismounted eccentrically in order to cause a uniform tension on the lever00 as the front end of the cylinder is raised or lowered, as will morefully hereinafterappear. Thechain' z isconnected to a bolt .2 within apassage 2 in the frame, said bolt having the nut A spring 2' isinterposed between the nut 2' and the frame, whereby the cylinder andcutter-bar are balanced. As the cutter-bar descends, the chain drawingon the bolt 2, will act to contract the spring e while in the samemanner as the cutterbar ascends the contraction on the spring will berelieved, and said spring will be permitted to expand, wherebya perfectbalance is always maintained.

It will be observed that the curved rackbar '0 lies against the side ofthe piston extension p, thereby serving as a support for the piston andcutter-bar, so as to steady the latter. Furthermore, said curvedrack-bar is located in front of the trunnions 0, and consequently thelatter are not subjected to the same amount of strain that they would besubjected to were the rack-bar located back of said trunnions.

As hereinbefore stated, Figs. 15 and 16 show a modified form of supportfor the machine when in operation. The numeral 2 indicates the truckwhich carries the machine, and 3 the wheels ordinarily employed fortransporting the machine to the point of operation. At the ends of thetruck are the upright guides 4, Within which are the vertically-movableposts or supports 5. A rack-face 6 is formed at the upper ends of saidposts, with which a pinion 7 on the guide 4 is adapted to engage. It isapparent that by turning the pinion 7 the post may be raised or lowered.The posts have openings 8 therein, and the guidest have correspondingopenings 9, so that when said openings are brought into coincidence witheach other pins 10 may lower end of the posts 5 are the shoes 11,adapted to slide on the rails of the track-section 0. When the machinehas been transferred to the movable track-section, the posts 5 arelowered and the wheels 3 raised. As the machine advances or recedes theshoes 11 slide along the rails.

I do not wish to limit myself in any man- A worm w engages be inserted.At the ner to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shownand described, but Wish to include all equivalent constructions.

WVhen my improved machine is employed in the mine, the operation is asfollows: The machine is first transported to that part of the mine whereit is to be employed by means of the wheels I) b, which run on a commontrack laid in the mine for the mining-Work. As stated before, when theWheels 19 b are transferring the machine to the point of operation therollers d d will be thrown up in the position shown in Fig. 3, theentire Weight of the machine therefore resting upon the four wheels I)b. The machine is thus trans ported to the place of operation. It isthen transferred to the section of track 0. When in proper position todo the cutting, the rollers d d are swung around, so as to rest incontact with the rails c. In this position the hangers 6 will be at aslight incline with refen once to the rails; but by passing a bar inunder the hubs of the rollers 61 CZ the said rollers are forced onto thetrack, so as to bring the hangers e to a vertical position with relationthereto, whereupon the shafts f, to which said hangers are secured, willbe moved up within the slots g in such position as to elevate the truckand raise the Wheels Z) Z) from contact with the rails. WVhen therollers d d have been brought into this position, the pins i will be inengagement with the grooves 71 of the truck-frame. The machine is nowsupported entirely by the four rollers d (1, located at points adjacentto the ends of the truck-frame, so that a broad and firm support isprovided for the machine to work upon. The chain Z is then secured tothe projections m m, when the machine is ready for operation. Thecutter-bar p is raised to the proper height opposite the coal whichprojects most, at which point the cut is to begin by means of turningthe handle w, whereby the worm-wheel o operates on the curved rack-bar1). Steam or air is then admitted to the cylinder 0 to cause thereciprocation of the piston therein and corresponding movement of thecutter-harp. The cutter-bar is gradually lowered by means of the handleto, the position of the machine with relation to the breast of the coalbeing regulated by turning the handle 7' By the reciprocation of thecutter-bar and the gradual lowering of the same a vertical cut is madeextending from the top to the bottom of the vein. After the cutter-barhas made a vertical cut from the top to the bottom of the vein saidcutterbar is raised to the top of the out again and the machine isadvanced the proper distance by turning the handle The cutter-bar p isagain put into operation and in the same manner as before is graduallylowered in the out until it has traversed it a second time. Each time,of course, the cut is getting deeper and the machine has to be advancedupon the rails c a corresponding distance. In this manner the cut isdeepened and the machine is operated until the carriage has advanced tothe front end of the rails, whereupon the cut will have been completed,the length of the cutter-bar having been previously determined for thedepth of cut to be made.

It is apparent that by the use of the balance mechanism described theraising and lowering of the cutter-bar by means of the worm mechanismand the rack can be dispensed with, as said cutter-bar may be raised andlowered by hand. The advantage, however, of using the worm mechanism andrackbar lies in the fact that the coal is not uniform in hardness, andwhere the cutter-bar is raised and lowered by hand it might glance orjump when striking the coal and cause delay and inconvenience. By theuse of the worm mechanism and rack or its equivalent the cutter-bar isheld in such a position thatit cannot glance or jump when striking, andconsequently the work is more continuous and even.

By my invention I provide a machine which is readily controlled by theoperator, so that an even and uniform vertical cut is made withoutsevere strain upon the parts of the machine and is easily operated bythe man working it. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a balancespring, a chain connected to said cutter-barand operating mechanism and to said spring, said chain engaging a wheelon said frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a balancespring, a chain connected to said cutter-barand operating mechanism and to said spring, and an eccentric wheel onthe frame with which said chain engages, substantially as set forth.

In a mining-machine, the combination with asuitable frame, of acutter-bar mounted to swing in a vertical plane, mechanism for operatingsaid cutter-bar, a balance-spring, connections between said spring andcutterbar and means for maintaining the tension of said spring uniformat all positions of the cutter-bar.

4:. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a lever having notches therein extending out from saidcutter-bar and operating mechanism, a balance-spring, a chain connectedto said lever and spring, and an eccentric wheel with which said chainengages, substantially as set forth.

5. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a T-bar eX- tending out from said frame, a guidehaving a groove adapted to engage the upper flanges of said T-bar, abolt forming one of the sides of said groove, whereby said guide may besecured to said T-bar, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a suitable truckframe, two independent sets ofwheels mounted therein, swinging hangers suspended from said framecarrying one set of said wheels, said hangers being adapted to elevatethe other set of wheels, projections on said hangers, said frame havingseats formed therein with which said projections engage, substantiallyas set forth.

'7. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a lever having notches therein and extending out fromsaid cutter-bar and operating mechanism, a balance-spring and a chainconnected to said lever and sprin 8. In .'a mining-machine, thecombination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and itsoperating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, asupportingbar for the cutter-bar, and means for adjustably clamping saidsupporting-bar to said cutter-bar-operating means so as to permitlongitudinal adjustment of said supportingbar.

9. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of areciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing ina vertical plane, a supportingbar for the cutter-bar, means foradjustably clamping said supporting-bar to said cutterbar-operatin gmechanism, so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of saidsupporting-bar, and removable truss-rods connected to saidsupporting-bar.

In testimony whereof I, the said ALBERT BALL, have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT BALL.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BALL, THOMAS W. FRY.

